Usually when you think of a beauty pageant, you think of evening gowns, maybe swimsuits, depressing talent competitions and people who want to solve world hunger by being pretty. But the best part of Sunday's Miss Universe competition (besides comely winner Stefania Fernandez, left) was the visual patriotism in the form of National Costumes that make no sense whatsoever but are still fantastic. Let's look!
Albania

From Southern Europe comes this charming lass, dressed for success at any Black Mass or midnight Sabbath to summon the Dark Master of the Underworld. She enjoys scuba diving, traveling the world, and the suffering of innocents. (She's also giving us flashbacks to "Manos: The Hands of Fate".)
USA

Celebrating our country's love of corndogs and circular tracks that have long been the foundation of our freedoms (the Constitution was written on the back of a NASCAR poster) comes this delightful young miss ready to start everyone's engines while a crowd of 20,000 onlookers sexually harasses her and drinks beer from plastic cups.
See more crazy costumes after the jump.

New Zealand

The Kiwis are a proud people and they have reason to be. Tourist dollars, as a result of the filming of "Lord of the Rings," are still rolling in from all corners of the globe. This sassy lady shows her pride by decking herself out as New Zealand's patron saint of prosperity, Gandalf.
Serbia

A country rich in history and turmoil, Serbia is known for its beautiful countryside and deeply varied cultural and artistic influences. Nowhere is this more present than in Miss Serbia's National Costume, inspired by the Nicolas Cage opus "The Wicker Man."
Peru

Home to the Incan Empire, Peru's history is full of awe and splendor stretching back to the very foundations of South American civilization. Perhaps most significant to their culture is their constant battle with the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. As this lady shows, even when battling teens in animal-shaped robots, you have to look good.
Puerto Rico

Not quite part of the U.S., Puerto Rico is a beautiful land full of beautiful people, who desperately want to beat the snot out of you.
Japan
Ahh, the Land of the Rising Sun. Its delicious cuisine, fast-paced culture and long history make Japan one of the most intriguing and fascinating countries on Earth. One of their most notable contributions to modern culture is their influence on entertainment, film and animation in particular, as shown by this whimsical demon-hooker costume.